The Free Electrons utility innovation program is a global initiative designed to accelerate the development and integration of cutting-edge technologies within the energy sector. Launched in 2017, the program brings together a network of forward-thinking utilities, energy startups, and industry experts to collaborate on innovative solutions that address the challenges of the modern energy landscape.
In the 2022 cohort of Free Electrons, the six utility partners, American Electric Power, CLP, EDP, E.ON, ESB, and Origen Energy, attracted over 700 applications worldwide. After an initial proposal and interview process, this applicant group was reduced to just 15 finalists with energy solutions that could have a transformative impact on the electricity landscape. Each startup underwent an extensive partnership development process over four months, including in-person meetings in Chicago, USA, and São Paulo, Brazil. After evaluating all 700 startups across the globe, the utility partners decided Power to Hydrogen had the innovation that provided the most transformation potential for the future of utilities. The opportunity to unleash the development of wind and solar electricity by freeing these projects from grid constraints stood out to the utilities. By the end of the program, the utilities decided to name Power to Hydrogen the winner of the Free Electrons 2022 Grand Challenge. Along with this distinction, the utilities awarded P2H2 $200,000.
Representatives from E.ON, AEP, P2H2, ESB, and EDP (In Order)
After winning the grand prize, the partners began working towards a concrete pilot opportunity with Power to Hydrogen’s technology. The partners settled on a plan to test P2H2’s demonstration-scale electrolyzer stack and balance of plant at American Electric Power’s facilities in Columbus, Ohio. The utilities aimed to demonstrate that the electrolyzer could operate durably for over 1,000+ hours when operating with variable solar and wind power profiles. To meet this goal, E.ON provided data from existing solar assets, and ESB provided data from existing wind assets to design a load profile matching existing wind and solar farms for the companies.
The utility partners hired the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) to administer the testing. EPRI helped develop the test plan, oversee data collection, and review all performance results. The pilot began operating in Q3 2023 and completed its key testing criteria before the end of 2023. The results confirmed a breakthrough in durability for AEM electrolyzers. While achieving all key performance criteria, including efficiency, ramp up/down, and cold start time, the electrolyzer also demonstrated PEM and alkaline level degradation rates when tied to variable wind and solar profiles. The results met each performance target and triggered phase II of the project to demonstrate the world’s first industrial-scale AEM electrolysis stack. Now, P2H2 and the utilities are working to install the scaled-up AEM electrolysis technology at the Port of Antwerp in Belgium. You can learn more about phase II of this pilot here.
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